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Switzerland has long been an enigma in this age of cultural nationalism: Its people speak four different languages and practice two major religions yet have managed to live in relative harmony. At a time when the internal solidity of many countries is being shattered by discordant ethnic groups, the situation in Switzerland lends credibility to the refreshing perspective that peaceful co-existence of heterogeneous people is indeed possible. Schmid analyzes the development of Switzerland's harmonious ethnic diversity, arguing that this country has been able to establish a common'civic culture'that transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries and provides the foundation for the toleration among the various linguistic and religions groups that is generally evident today. Regional autonomy, linguistic equality, a coalition of the political leaders of all the major communities, and proportionality for parliamentary election and allocation of civil service appointment has helped the diverse groups achieve a stable an relatively amicable confederation of cantons. Though surrounded by countries that define nationalism linguistically, Switzerland defies this norm and is instead united by a self-conscious politcal definition of nationhood. Schmid also examines the delicate problems this vital country now faces: How will it deal with the political status of the Jura--a region repeatedly threatened by intense linguistic and religious conflict, and what will be the fate of that voiceless, non-national, political minority--the foreign workers who threaten to disrupt Switzerland's complex balance of ethnic forces? Switzerland has long been an enigma in this age of cultural nationalism: Its people speak four different languages and practice two major religions yet have managed to live in relative harmony. At a time when the internal solidity of many countries is bei
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